Enel Green Power Begins Operating South America’s Largest Wind Farm

One of the leading power and renewables companies, Enel Green Power has announced that it has begun the commercial operations of the 716 MW Lagoa dos Vento’s wind farm in Brazil. It is the largest wind facility currently in operation in South America and Enel Green Power’s largest wind farm worldwide.

Enel invested around 3 billion Brazilian reais, equivalent to around 620 million euros at the current exchange rate for this 716 MW wind farm located at located in the municipalities of Lagoa do Barro do Piauí, Queimada Nova, and Dom Inocêncio, in Brazil’s northeastern state of Piauí.

Speaking of the commencing of the largest wind farm, CEO of Enel Green Power, Salvatore Bernabei stated, “Lagoa dos Ventos is a record-breaking wind project and its start of commercial operations is an important milestone for Enel Green Power worldwide, especially in light of the challenges of the global health scenario.”

Salvatore, the Head of Enel’s Global Power Generation business line, added, “As our largest wind facility in the world, Lagoa dos Ventos represents a significant step forward for our sustainable growth, while also supporting the green recovery in Brazil, further contributing to the diversification of the country’s energy mix.”

The completely running 716 MW wind farm is comprised of 230 wind turbines and is expected to generate over 3.3TWh annually along with cutting over 1.9 million tons of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

Out of the wind farm’s total installed capacity, 510 MW were awarded to Enel Green Power in Brazil’s A-6 public tender in December 2017 and is supported by 20-year power supply contracts with distribution companies operating in the country’s regulated market, while the output from the remaining 206 MW will be delivered to the free market for sale to retail customers, leveraging Enel’s integrated presence in the country.

Notably, through its subsidiaries EGPB and Enel Brasil, Enel Group has a total renewable installed capacity of over 3.7 GW, of which 1,498 MW are wind, 979 MW solar, and 1,269 MW hydroelectric in Brazil.

Recently in May 2021, Enel Green Power España (EGPE) announced the commencement of the construction of its new 180 MW wind farm located in Villar de Los Navarros in Zaragoza, Spain. The new wind farm has been named The TICO WIND plant which involves an investment of Euro 181 million and is expected to generate 471 GWh per year.

While One day before that, it has announced the commissioning of the new Nou Biniatria 14.96 MW solar photovoltaic plant in the town of Alcúdia in Mallorca.